Sphero facts for kids
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Formerly
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Orbotix |
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| Founded | 2010 |
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| Headquarters | Boulder, Colorado United States |
Sphero, Inc. (which used to be called Orbotix) is an American company that makes cool robots and toys. They are based in Boulder, Colorado, in the United States.
Their very first product was a white spherical robot called Sphero. It came out in December 2011. You could control it by rolling it around using a smartphone or tablet. A newer version, Sphero 2.0, was released in August 2013. Both of these original Sphero robots are not sold anymore.
In 2015, Sphero made a deal with Disney. They created a BB-8 robot, just like the one from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie! Because that robot was so popular, Sphero also made models of R2-D2 and Lightning McQueen. The Disney products were stopped in 2018 after their partnership ended.
Today, Sphero still makes several round robots similar to the first Sphero. These include the Sphero Mini, BOLT, and SPRK+.
In February 2019, Sphero announced a new robot called the Sphero RVR. It's a tank-like robot that you can program. They called it a "go anywhere, do anything programmable robot." It has parts you can change and can go on different types of ground. The RVR is also made to help with learning and education. It was released in October 2019.
In August 2019, Sphero bought another company called littleBits.
Contents
Sphero Robots: What They Do
The First Sphero Robots
The first Sphero robot was created by its inventors, Ian Bernstein and Adam Wilson. They used a 3D-printed shell and parts from a smartphone to build it. They showed it off at a big technology show called CES in 2011.
The original Sphero was released in 2011. It was a white ball about 74 millimeters (about 3 inches) wide and weighed 168 grams (about 6 ounces). It had a small computer inside, batteries, colored lights, and sensors that could tell how it was moving. It connected to your phone using Bluetooth and charged without wires. A faster and brighter version, Sphero 2.0, came out in 2013.
You could control these toys with a smartphone or tablet. They worked with iOS, Android, or Windows Phone devices. Because they had motion sensors, you could even use them as a game controller for some games! Sphero also let people create their own apps and games for the robots.
You could program the robots using an app called Sphero Macrolab. This app had ready-made commands. There was also orbBasic, which used a simple language called BASIC.
Both Sphero 1.0 and 2.0 are no longer sold. The original Sphero 1.0 does not work with the newer Sphero Play or Sphero EDU apps.
Ollie: The Trick Robot
The Sphero Ollie came out in 2014. Unlike the round Sphero, Ollie uses tires, so it looks more like a car. It's great for doing cool tricks and spins! Instead of charging without wires, Ollie uses a micro-USB cable. It can go really fast, up to 23 kilometers per hour (about 14 miles per hour).
Star Wars and Cars Robots
Sphero worked with Disney to create some amazing robots based on popular movies!
BB-8: The Spherical Droid
In 2014, Sphero was part of a special program with Disney. The CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, showed them pictures of a new robot from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. This robot was BB-8, a round droid. Disney offered Sphero a deal to make a real BB-8 toy using Sphero's technology! Disney also invested some money in Sphero. The BB-8 toy was released on September 4, 2015. It came with a special Star Wars app that could even show "holographic" messages using augmented reality.
This robot is no longer sold because the partnership with Disney ended.
R2-D2: The Classic Droid
After the BB-8 robot was so popular, Sphero also released an R2-D2 robot. It used Sphero's technology too! You could control it with an app on your iOS or Android (operating system) phone or tablet. Unlike BB-8, the R2-D2 droid charged with a micro-USB cable, not wirelessly.
This robot is also no longer sold because the partnership with Disney ended.
Ultimate Lightning McQueen
In 2017, Sphero released a robotic car based on Lightning McQueen from the Cars movies. This was also part of their deal with Disney.
Like the other Disney robots, this one is no longer sold.
Sphero Bolt: The Smart Robot
Sphero Bolt is a clear version of the Sphero robot. It's about 73 millimeters (about 2.9 inches) wide and weighs 200 grams (about 7 ounces). It's sealed and charges wirelessly. This robot has the most sensors of all the Sphero robots! It has sensors for movement, an 8x8 LED screen, a compass, and even light sensors.
Sphero SPRK+: For Learning and Coding
Sphero SPRK+ is another clear Sphero robot. It's about 73 millimeters (about 2.9 inches) wide and weighs 181 grams (about 6.4 ounces). It's sealed and charges wirelessly. This robot is made especially for learning and coding in schools.
Sphero Mini: Small and Fun
Sphero Mini is a much smaller Sphero robot. It's only about 42 millimeters (about 1.6 inches) wide and weighs 46 grams (about 1.6 ounces). It's the first Sphero robot where you can change its outer shell! These shells come in many bright colors like white, blue, pink, green, and orange. The Mini is the cheapest Sphero robot. It has a cool new feature called Face Drive. This lets you control the robot using your head movements through the app! The Mini charges with a micro USB cable, which means it's not waterproof like some other Spheros. You can also create your own games for the Sphero Mini in the Sphero Edu app.
Sphero RVR: The Programmable Tank
Sphero RVR (pronounced "rover") is a programmable robot kit that Sphero first showed on Kickstarter in February 2019. It's advertised as a robot that can "go anywhere, do anything."
You can program it using an app, either by dragging and dropping visual blocks or by writing JavaScript code. The RVR has parts you can add or change. You can even attach other small computers like Arduino and Raspberry Pi to it! It has a battery you can swap out, which charges with a USB-C cable.
The RVR is designed to be very helpful for learning about robotics and coding. It was released in October 2019.
Sphero indi: For Young Learners
Sphero indi is a programmable robot made for younger kids. Its main feature is that it has a camera that can see different colored cards. When it drives over these cards, it does different things!
You can use it with the Sphero Edu Jr. app, or you can even use it without any smart device at all.
